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City staff restructuring reduces 2020 operating budget: CAO

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Organizational changes within the city, including the job loss of one longtime employee, will reduce the 2020 operating budget by $727,000.

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The city’s CAO, Brian Hutchings, is recommending to the city’s estimates committee, which is in the midst of budget deliberations, that those savings be used to fund a list of “unmet needs,” including the hiring of several new staff members.

In a memo sent to city staff last week, Hutchings outlined the organizational changes, which include the elimination of the community programs, parks and recreation commission.

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Sandy Jackson, who was general manager of community programs, parks and recreation, and a 31-year employee with the city, had her job eliminated as a result of the reorganization. Jackson, the city’s former director of recreation, was promoted to the general manager position in March 2016 and was responsible for all recreation facilities and programs, as well as parks department services and operations.

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“Brantford is a city in transformation and, in turn, so, too, is our organization,” Hutchings said in the memo to city staff announcing the reorganization.

“While we must continue to meet the demands of a growing population, as stewards of public funds, we are also obligated to deliver city programs and services in the most effective and efficient manner possible.”

The CAO said the new organizational structure “will see the departments within the community programs, parks and recreation commission better aligned with related services in public works and health and human resources.”

He outlined a number of changes in the reporting structure for departments previously within the eliminated commission. He said city staff members were moved into newly opened positions.

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Hutchings also announced organizational changes within the city’s public works department, effective Jan. 2.

Changes made in the CAO/mayor’s office resulting in a savings of $92,000 were announced last month and have already been included in the 2020 city budget.

Robin Matthews Osmond, chief of staff to the mayor, has taken the newly-created job as manager of corporate communications with Brantford police. Sasha Hill will take over as chief of staff to the mayor and CAO, “a newly-created shared resource that will enhance collaboration between both offices,” said Hutchings.

Melanie Figueiredo has been hired for the newly created position of administration co-ordinator for the office of the mayor and CAO.

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The unmet needs, most of them new staffing positions recommended by Hutchings, were to be considered by the estimates committee at a budget meeting on Monday. Those requests came from a much longer list of city staff asks. The others were already turned down by the estimates committee.

“Recognizing council’s desire for fiscal restraint, and in conjunction with my review of the most pressing needs, I have implemented organizational changes this past week which will result in the savings needed to fund most of my recommended unmet needs,” Hutchings said in a report to the estimates committee.

Councillors are in the midst of budget talks, which began Nov. 18 with a projected increase of 2.41 per cent over 2019. After some cutting, the city’s operating budget now sits at just over $161.2 million, an increase of 2.18 per cent over 2019.

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That translates into a tax increase of $53.78 for the average residential taxpayer with a home with an assessed value of $284,000.

A capital levy of 0.75 per cent that will help fund a 10-year capital program worth $872 million needed to keep municipal assets in good repair will be added to the tax bill. The city has an annual infrastructure deficit of $52 million. With the capital levy factored in, the average tax increase is now sitting at $77.58.

Hutchings is recommending 14 needs for the estimates committee’s consideration, including:

  • An asset management specialist budgeted at $98,000.
  • A housing support worker for the social assistance and homelessness department, budgeted at $61,000.
  • A human resources representative for the city and library budgeted at $95,000.
  • A third-party disability specialist budgeted at $50,000.
  • A fire safety educator budgeted at $62,000.
  • $25,900 for eScribe live streaming of city council and committee meetings.
  • $18,700 for increased security guard hours at the Brantford Public Library.
  • Transportation planning project co-ordinator budgeted at $20,400.
  • Supervisor right of way control budgeted at $85,000.
  • Operational services technologist (traffic systems) budgeted at $70,000.
  • Intermediate planner.
  • A maintenance analyst, water.
  • Supervisor of sports fields and turf budgeted at $98,000.
  • Staffing specialist (eight-month contract to full-time) budgeted at $54,000.
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Hutchings said three other one-time unmet needs could be funded from the city’s reserves with no impact on the 2020 operating budget. Those include: a value-for-money audit at a cost of $100,000; an interim measure to improve traffic flow to and from Highway 403 and West Brant at a cost of $14,000; and retrofit pedestrian signal at Colborne Street West fire station No. 4 at a cost of $21,000.

If the estimates committee approves all the recommended needs, the budget increase will go to 2.24 per cent from 2.18 per cent.

“This increase is below the starting point of 2.41 per cent on Nov. 18 and includes a significant investment in police services,” said Hutchings. “When police is removed, the budget increase for all other city services is 1.02 per cent.”

Brantford police have approved a 2020 budget of $35.9 million that will add 17 new jobs, including four front-line officers.

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